Day 363

The Enemies of God’s People

Read: Revelation 12-15

Here we have a new vision in which the woman represents God’s people (first Israel, then the church). The child represents Jesus. The dragon represents the devil. The devil tries to pounce upon Jesus, but he ascends to heaven. The devil then turns his attention to the church which is protected by God.

An ally of the devil is the beast from the sea (13:1). Rome is across the sea from Turkey, so this beast apparently represents the persecuting power of Rome (v. 7). Under such persecution, Christians are called upon to remain faithful to Christ (v. 10b). Another ally of the devil is a second beast from the land, probably representing the persecuting power of the local officials. The infamous number 666 probably comes from giving a numerical equivalent to the name Nero Caesar. It thus was a code word describing Rome as the enemy but in a way that would not lead to the arrest of a Christian possessing a copy of the book of Revelation. Likewise, Babylon (14:8), the ancient enemy of God’s people, is used as a code word for Rome, the contemporary enemy. Although Rome still had great power at that time, God’s far greater power assured Rome’s defeat with such certainty that it could be described as past: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon.”

The section ends with a song in heaven. “Great and wonderful are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty!” (15:3).

PRAYER
Father, as today also we are confronted with the wiles of the devil, help us to remain faithful. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.